Installation for the prevention of slipping of the drive wheel of motor vehicles

ABSTRACT

An installation for preventing slippage of the driving wheels of motor vehicles whose driving wheels are driven from the driving engine by way of a transmission, and in which a pulse transmitter responsive to an increase in the rotational acceleration is coordinated to the drive connection between the engine and the driving wheels which is so connected with a correcting member that upon exceeding a predetermined limit of rotational acceleration, the output of the engine is automatically reduced.

United States Patent 1 [111 3,776,355 Scherenberg Dec. 4, 1973 [54]INSTALLATION FOR THE PREVENTION 2,401,628 6/1946 Eksergian 303 21 BB x FSLIPPING OF THE DRIVE WHEEL OF 3/132; 3 fgg Z ger, r. e MOTOR VEHICLES3,060,602 10/1962 Buttenhoff 180/77 X [75] Inventor: Hans O.Scherenberg, 3,217,826 11/1965 Carter et a1... 180/77Stuttgart-Heumaden, Germany 3,288,232 11/1966 Shepherd 180/1 [73]Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft,

Stuttgart-Unterturkheim, Germany Primary Examiner-Kenneth H. BettsFiled: Mar. 1969 Attorney-Craig, Antonelll, and Hill [21] App]. No.:810,160

[57] ABSTRACT F Ii ti l orelgn App ca Pnonty Dam An installation forpreventing slippage of the driving Mar. 25, 1968 AUStI'la 2931/68 wheelsof motor vehicles whose driving wheels are driven from the drivingengine by way of a transmis- [52] U.S. Cl. 180/77 R, 1:, 5 C sion, andin which a Pulse transmitter responsive to an increase in the rotationalacceleration is coordinated [51] Int. Cl Bt 8/12, B60k 31/00 to thedrive connection between the engine and the [58] Fleld of Search 180,77driving wheels which is so connected with a correcting 303/21 21 192/3member that upon exceeding a predetermined limit of rotationalacceleration, the output of the engine is au- [56] References cuedtomatically reduced.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,304,560 19 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure 12/1942Freeman 303/21 BB UX PMENIEDBEE 4 I975 3778355 INVENTOR HANS 0.SCHERENBERG ATTORNEYS INSTALLATION FOR THE PREVENTION OF SLIPPING OF THEDRIVE WHEEL OF MOTOR VEHICLES The present invention relates to aninstallation for the prevention of the slipping of the driven wheels ofmotor vehicles whose driven wheels are driven from a driving internalcombustion engine by way of a transmission, especially by way of anautomatically shifting change-speed transmission, which engine isadapted to be regulated in its output by a regulating or control member,for example, by a carburetor throttle valve which is to be actuated byan actuating member, for instance, a drive pedal.

In motor vehicles with an internal combustion engine having a hightorque, the driven wheels occasionally tend to slip. This slipping mayoccur, for example, when the actuation of the drive pedal or of theclutch is not realized as carefully as would be required by thehigh-torque engine. This same effect, by the way, can also occur duringthe drive if the vehicle, for example, during the acceleration reachesfrom one road-surface to another, for example, a more slippery roadsurface. In all cases not only a loss of drive in propulsion isconnected with this slipping, i.e., the acceleration is lost but alsothe vehicle may begin to skid as a result thereof because of the absenceof the lateral guide force.

The present invention now aims at avoiding the described disadvantages.The underlying problems are solved by the present invention in that apulse transmitter is coordinated to the drive connection between thetransmission and the driving wheels responsive to rotational or angularacceleration, which is connected with a correcting member, that, in itsturn, is in operative connection with the linkage between the actuatingmember and the regulating or control member and which with a pulseinitiation upon exceeding a possibly adjustable acceleration, engagesinto this linkage in the sense of an output reduction.

By means of the installation according to the present invention therotational acceleration at the driving wheels is automatically sensedand upon exceeding the permissive value, i.e., upon slippage of thewheels the driving engine is immediately throttled by engagement in thecontrol linkage. The aforementioned disadvantages are avoided in thismanner. The engagement takes place automatically and independently ofthe driver, which contributes to a further relief of the driversresponsibilities.

For example, the Cardan shaft can be used for the installation ormounting of the pulse transmitter. On the other hand, it would also befeasible within the scope of the present invention, to install the pulsetransmitter directly into the wheel hub whereby, however, appropriatelyone pulse transmitter is coordinated to each wheel, which then act byway of a common circuit of any conventional construction, on thecorrecting member in such a manner that the respective maximumrotational acceleration is made effective. The engagement of thecorrecting member may be realized in a conventional blackwhite mannersuch that upon pulse initiation, the regulator is retracted or takenback at the internal combustion engine into its zero position. On theother hand, it is also within the purview of the present invention todifferentiate the engagement, for example, by way of an electronicintermediate circuitconnection, in the sense that the regulating memberis the more returned to its zero position the higher the amount, bywhich the rotational acceleration exceeds the adjusted or preselectedvalue.

Installations have already been proposed in the prior art, in which thebrake slippage is regulated in dependence on a pulse transmitterresponding to rotational or angular acceleration. For the purpose ofcombining such an installation with the installation according to thepresent invention, it is now additionally proposed that the line fromthe pulse transmitter is extended to a shifting relay or a switch and isadapted to be selectively connected by means of this switch with thecorrecting member or with the brake slippage regulator. In this mannerthe advantage is achieved that both the brake slippage regulator as alsothe acceleration monitor can be controlled by means of one pulsetransmitter.

In one embodiment of the installation according to the present inventiona shifting switch, possibly adapted to be actuated indirectly, iscoordinated to the actuating member, for example, to the drive pedal,which upon actuation of the actuating member switches the pulsetransmitter from the brake slippage regulator to the correcting member.In contrast thereto, in another embodiment of this type a possiblyindirectly actuated shifting switch is coordinated to the brake pedalwhich switches the pulse transmitter upon actuation of the brake pedalfrom the correcting mem ber to the brake slippage regulator. Theshifting or switching can thereby take place, of course, either directlyor indirectly, for example, by way ofa relay. Similarly, the shifting ofthe correcting member can take place indirectly, for example, also byway of the interconnection of relays and/or with the aid ofservomembers.

According to a further feature and development of the inventive conceptit is proposed that a lifting magnet or solenoid serves as correctingmember which engages in the first linkage, part operatively connectedwith the regulating member that, in its turn, is forcelockinglyconnected with the second linkage part leading to the actuating member.It is then appropriate for that purpose if the two linkage parts arekept in continuous abutment at one another by a draw-spring and thearmature of the lift magnet engages by means of a pin in an elongatedaperture in the first linkage part.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide aninstallation for preventing the slippage of the driven wheels of motorvehicles which avoids by simple means the aforementioned shortcomingsand drawbacks encountered in the prior art.

Another object of the present invention resides in an installation forpreventing slippage of the driving wheels of motor vehicles which issimple in construction yet reliable in' operation.

A still further object of the present invention resides in aninstallation for the prevention of the slippage of the driving wheels ofmotor vehicles, which can be readily combined with an installation forpreventing brake slippage.

These and further objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more obvious from the following description whentaken in connection with the accompanying drawing which shows, forpurposes of illustration only, one embodiment in accordance with thepresent invention and wherein.

The single FIGURE is a somewhat schematic, perspective view of oneembodiment of an installation in accordance with the present inventionfor preventing the slipping of the driving wheels of motor vehicles.

Referring now to the single FIGURE of the drawing, the driving enginedrives by way ofa clutch 11 and a transmission 12 the Cardan shaft 13which, in its turn, drives the rear wheels 15 of the motor vehicle byway of a differential gear 14. The clutch 11 and the transmission 12 mayalso be constructed as automatically shifting change-speed gear, forexample, with a hydrodynamic coupling or a hydrodynamic torqueconverter. The control of the engine 10 takes place by a carburetor 16whose throttle valve (not shown) is actuated by the drive or gas pedal17 in a manner to be described more fully hereinafter. Withinjection-type engines, of course, an injection pump takes the place ofthe carburetor 16. However, nothing changes in the principle of thepresent invention by such substitution.

Rotational-acceleration pulse transmitters 18 are installed into the tworear wheels 15 into the hub portions thereof. Theserotational-acceleration pulse transmitters 18, which are of conventionalconstruction, produce in a known manner not forming part of the presentinvention, an electric pulse upon surpassing or exceeding apredetermined rotational acceleration. The response value of these pulsetransmitters may be adjusted in a known manner to a predeterminedrotational acceleration. This pulse is supplied by way of the line 22 tothe center contact 20 of a shifting switch generally designated byreference numeral 21 and from the latter, in the illustrated position,by a line 19 to the brake slippage regulator mechanism 23 which again isof known construction. The brake regulator apparatus 23 regulates in aconventional manner the brake slippage, if the brake is engaged oractuated with a nonactuated drive pedal 17. The installation of thepresent invention therefore is inoperative with non-actuated drive pedal17.

Upon actuation of the drive pedal 17, i.e., during acceleration, theswitch 24 is closed and the energizing winding 25 of the shifting switch21 is energized. As a result thereof, the center contact 20 is shiftedor switched to the other terminal 26 and as a result thereof, the line22 is connected with line 27 that leads to a lift magnet or solenoid 28.The armature of the solenoid 28 engages with a pin 29 into the elongatedaperture 30 of the first linkage part 31 which is in operativeconnection with the throttle valve of the carburetor 16. The firstlinkage part 31 is retained by a drawspring 32 in constant abutment atthe pin 33 of the second linkage part 34 which is secured on the shaft35 of the pedal 17.

If in this position, i.e., upon actuation of the drive pedal 17, a pulseis transmitted in the pulse transmitters 18, then this pulse istransmitted by way of lines 19, 20, 26 and 27 to the magnet 28 and thelatter attracts. As a result thereof, it pulls the first linkage part 31by means of the pin 29 against the effect of the drawspring 32 in theclosing direction. This means that the throttle valve is then closed andthe output of the internal combustion engine decreases. This goes onuntil both rear wheels 15 again grip and the pulse changes. The liftmagnet or solenoid 28 then becomes again deenergized and the draw-spring32 then again pulls the two linkage parts 31 and 34 back into theirmutual abutment. The internal combustion engine can then be controlledagain in its output in the usual manner from the drive pedal 17.

While I have shown and described only one embodiment in accordance withthe present invention it is understood that the same is not limitedthereto but is susceptible of numerous changes and modifications asknown to a person skilled in the art, and I therefore do not wish to belimited to the details shown and described herein but intend to coverall such changes as are within the scope of those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. An installation for the prevention of the slipping of the drivingwheels of motor vehicles, whose driving wheels are driven from aninternal combustion engine by way of a transmission, the engine beingadapted to be controlled in its output by a regulating means adapted tobe actuated by an actuating means, characterized by pulse transmittermeans responsive to rotational acceleration and operatively associatedwith the drive connection between the transmission and the drivingwheels, said pulse transmitter means being operatively connected with acorrecting means, and linkage means between said actuating means andsaid regulating means, said correcting means being operatively connectedwith said linkage means in such a manner that upon pulse initiation,when exceeding a predetermined acceleration, the correcting meansengages into said linkage means in the sense of a reduction of theoutput of the engine.

2. An installation according to claim 1, wherein said transmission is anautomatically shifting transmission.

3. An installation according to claim 1, wherein said regulating meansis a carburetor throttle valve.

4. An installation according to claim 3, wherein said actuating means isa drive pedal.

5. An installation according to claim 1, wherein said actuating means isa drive pedal.

6. An installation according to claim 1, wherein said correcting meansincludes a solenoid means which engages into a first linkage part ofsaid linkage means operatively connected with the regulating means, saidfirst linkage means being force-lockingly connected with a secondlinkage part of said linkage means leading to the actuating means.

7. An installation for the prevention of the slipping of the drivingwheels of motor vehicles, whose driving wheels are driven for aninternal combustion engine by way of a transmission, the engine beingadapted to be controlled in its output by a regulating means adapted tobe actuated by an actuating means, characterized by pulse transmittermeans responsive to rotational acceleration and operatively associatedwith the drive connection between the transmission and the drivingwheels, said pulse transmitter means being operatively connected with acorrecting means, and linkage means between said actuating means andsaid regulating means, said correcting means being operatively connectedwith said linkage means in such a manner that upon pulse initiation,when exceeding a predetermined acceleration, the correcting meansengages into said linkage means in the sense of a reduction of theoutput of the engine, brake slippage regulator means for controlling thebrake slippage in dependence on the pulse transmitter means, the linefrom the pulse transmitter means being extended to a switch meansoperable to selectively connect said line with said correcting means orwith the brake slippage regulator means.

8. An installation according to claim 7, wherein the switch means iscoordinated to the actuating means and is operable to switch the pulsetransmitter means, upon actuation of the actuating means, from the brakeslippage regulator means to the correcting means.

9. An installation according to claim 7, wherein the switch means iscoordinated to a brake pedal and is operable to switch the pulsetransmitter means, upon actuation of the brake pedal, from thecorrecting means to the brake slippage regulator means.

10. An installation according to claim 8, wherein means are provided forindirectly-actuating said switch means.

11. An installation according to claim 9, wherein means are provided forindirectly actuating said switch means.

12. An installation for the prevention of the slipping of the drivingwheels of motor vehicles, whose driving wheels are driven from aninternal combustion engine by way of a transmission, the engine beingadapted to be controlled in its output by a regulating means adapted tobe actuated by an actuating means, characterized by pulse transmittermeans responsive to rotational acceleration and operatively associatedwith the drive connection between the transmission and the drivingwheels, said pulse transmitter means being operatively connected with acorrecting means, and linkage means between said actuating means andsaid regulating means, said correcting means being operatively connectedwith said linkage means in such a manner that upon pulse initiation,when exceeding a predetermined acceleration, the correcting meansengages into said linkage means in the sense of a reduction of theoutput of the engine, said correcting means including a solenoid meanswhich engages into a first linkage part of said linkage meansoperatively connected with the regulating means, said first linkagemeans being forcelockingly connected with a second linkage part of saidlinkage means leading to the actuating means and both linkage partsbeing kept in continuous abutment against one another by spring means,the armature of the solenoid means engaging by means of a pin into anelongated aperture in the first linkage part.

13. An installation according to claim 12, with brake slippage regulatormeans for controlling the brake slippage in dependence on the pulsetransmitter means, characterized in that the line from the pulsetransmitter means is extended to a switch means operable to selectivelyconnect said line with said correcting means or with the brake slippageregulator means.

14. An installation according to claim 13, wherein the switch means iscoordinated to the actuating means and is operable to switch the pulsetransmitter means, upon actuation of the actuating means, from the brakeslippage regulator means to the correcting means.

15. An installation according to claim 13, wherein the switch means iscoordinated to a brake pedal and is operable to switch the pulsetransmitter means, upon actuation of the brake pedal, from thecorrecting means to the brake slippage regulator means.

16. An installation for the slippage-prevention of the driven wheels ofmotor vehicles, whose driving engine is adapted to be controlled in itsoutput by a control means characterized by pulse transmitter meansresponsive t0 rotational acceleration of the driven wheels, correctingmeans, and connecting means operatively connecting the pulse transmittermeans with said correcting means in a manner that in case of a pulseinitiation, upon exceeding a predetermined acceleration, the correctingmeans is operable to adjust the engine output control means in the senseof a reduction of the engine output.

17. An installation for the slippage-prevention of the driven wheels ofmotor vehicles, whose driving engine is adapted to be controlled in itsoutput by a control means characterized by pulse transmitter meansresponsive to rotational acceleration of the driven wheels, correctingmeans, and connecting means operatively connecting the pulse transmittermeans with said correcting means in such a manner that in case of apulse initiation, upon exceeding a predetermined acceleration, thecorrecting means is operable to adjust the engine output control meansin the sense of a reduction of the engine output, brake-slippage controlmeans for controlling the brake slippage in dependence on the pulsetransmitter means, and shifting means in said connecting means andoperable to selectively connect said transmitter means with saidcorrecting means or with the brake slippage control means.

18. An installation according to claim 17, wherein said shifting meansswitches the pulse transmitter means from the brake slippage controlmeans to the correcting means upon actuation of the engine.

19. An installation according to claim 17, wherein said shiftingswitches the pulse transmitter means from the correcting means to thebrake slippage control means upon actuation of the brake.

1. An installation for the prevention of the slipping of the drivingwheels of motor vehicles, whose driving wheels are driven from aninternal combustion engine by way of a transmission, the engine beingadapted to be controlled in its output by a regulating means adapted tobe actuated by an actuating means, characterized by pulse transmittermeans responsive to rotational acceleration and operatively associatedwith the drive connection between the transmission and the drivingwheels, said pulse transmitter means being operatively connected with acorrecting means, and linkage means between said actuating means andsaid regulating means, said correcting means being operatively connectedwith said linkage means in such a manner that upon pulse initiation,when exceeding a predetermined acceleration, the correcting meansengages into said linkage means in the sense of a reduction of theoutput of the engine.
 2. An installation according to claim 1, whereinsaid transmission is an automatically shifting transmission.
 3. Aninstallation according to claim 1, wherein said regulating means is acarburetor throttle valve.
 4. An installation according to claim 3,wherein said actuating means is a drive pedal.
 5. An installationaccording to claim 1, wherein said actuating means is a drive pedal. 6.An installation according to claim 1, wherein said correcting meansincludes a solenoid means which engages into a first linkage part ofsaid linkage means operatively connected with the regulating means, saidfirst linkage means being force-lockingly connected with a secondlinkage part of said linkage means leading to the actuating means.
 7. Aninstallation for the prevention of the slipping of the driving wheels ofmotor vehicles, whose driving wheels are driven for an internalcombustion engine by way of a transmission, the engine being adapted tobe controlled in its output by a regulating means adapted to be actuatedby an actuating means, characterized by pulse transmitter meansresponsive to rotational acceleration and operatively associated withthe drive connection between the transmission and the driving wheels,said pulse transmitter means being operatively connected with acorrecting means, and linkage means between said actuating means andsaid regulating means, said correcting means being operatively connectedwith said linkage means in such a manner that upon pulse initiation,when exceeding a predetermined acceleration, the correcting meansengages into said linkage means in the sense of a reduction of theoutput of the engine, brake slippage regulator means for controlling thebrake slippage in dependence on the pulse transmitter means, the linefrom the pulse transmitter means being extended to a switch meansoperable to selectively connect said line with said correcting means orwith the brake slippage regulator means.
 8. An installation according toclaim 7, wherein the switch means is coordinated to the actuating meansand is operable to switch the pulse transmitter means, upon actuation ofthe actuating means, from the brake slippage regulator means to thecorrecting means.
 9. An installation according to claim 7, wherein theswitch means is coordinated to a brake pedal and is operable to switchthe pulse transmitter means, upon actuation of the brake pedal, from thecorrecting means to the brake slippage regulator means.
 10. Aninstallation according to claim 8, wherein means are provided forindirectly-actuating said switch means.
 11. An installation according toclaim 9, wherein means are provided for indirectly actuating said switchmeans.
 12. An installation for the prevention of the slipping of thedriving wheels of motor vehicles, whose driving wheels are driven froman internal combustion engine by way of a transmission, the engine beingadapted to be controlled in its output by a regulating means adapted tobe actuated by an actuating means, characterized by pulse transmittermeans responsive to rotational acceleration and operatively associatedwith the drive connection between the transmission and the drivingwheels, said pulse transmitter means being operatively connected with acorrecting means, and linkage means between said actuating means andsaid regulating means, said correcting means being operatively connectedwith said linkage means in such a manner that upon pulse initiation,when exceeding a predetermined acceleration, the correcting meansengages into said linkage means in the sense of a reduction of theoutput of the engine, said correcting means including a solenoid meanswhich engages into a first linkage part of said linkage meansoperatively connected with the regulating means, said first linkagemeans being force-lockingly connected with a second linkage part of saidlinkage means leading to the actuating means and both linkage partsbeing kept in continuous abutment against one another by spring means,the armature of the solenoid means engaging by means of a pin into anelongated aperture in the first linkage part.
 13. An installationaccording to claim 12, with brake slippage regulator means forcontrolling the brake slippage in dependence on the pulse transmittermeans, characterized in that the line from the pulse transmitter meansis extended to a switch means operable to selectively connect said linewith said correcting means or with the brake slippage regulator means.14. An installation according to claim 13, wherein the switch means iscoordinated to the actuating means and is operable to switch the pulsetransmitter means, upon actuation of the actuating means, from the brakeslippage regulator means to the correcting means.
 15. An installationaccording to claim 13, wherein the switch means is coordinated to abrake pedal and is operable to switch the pulse transmitter means, uponactuation of the brake pedal, from the correcting means to the brakeslippage regulator means.
 16. An installation for theslippage-prevention of the driven wheels of motor vehicles, whosedriving engine is adapted to be controlled in its output by a controlmeans characterized by pulse transmitter means responsive to rotationalacceleration of the driven wheels, correcting means, and connectingmeans operatively connecting the pulse transmitter means with saidcorrecting means in a manner that in case of a pulse initiation, uponexceeding a predetermined acceleration, the correcting means is operableto adjust the engine output control means in the sense of a reduction ofthe engine output.
 17. An installation for the slippage-prevention ofthe driven wheels of motor vehicles, whose driving engine is adapted tobe controlled in its output by a control means characterized by pulsetransmitter means responsive to rotational acceleration of the drivenwheels, correcting means, and connecting means operatively connectingthe pulse transmitter means with said correcting means in such a mannerthat in case of a pulse initiation, upon exceeding a predeterminedacceleration, the correcting means is operable to adjust the engineoutput control means in the sense of a reduction of the engine output,brake-slippage control means for controlling the brake slippage independence on the pulse transmitter means, and shifting means in saidconnecting means and operable to selectively connect said transmittermeans with said correcting means or with the brake slippage controlmeans.
 18. An installation according to claim 17, wherein said shiftingmeans switches the pulse transmitter means from the brake slippagecontrol means to the correcting means upon actuation of the engine. 19.An installation according to claim 17, wherein said shifting switchesthe pulse transmitter means from the correcting means to the brakeslippage control means upon actuation of the brake.